The Devotion of Life — Page 70
70 ‘WAQF’ – According to Islamic jurisprudence, any property or public utility building which has been given in perpetuity by the owner in the name of Allah. The legal descendants cannot claim that property. Only a Muslim organisation or the Government manages such a property. Summary of the Linguistic Research The Linguistic Research tells us that the meaning of ‘Waqfe Zindagi’ is to present one’s life to Allah the Almighty forever. After this ‘waqf’, one does not remain master of one’s life, possessions, honour, dignity, time or desires. One owns nothing but becomes subservient to any system that has been set up by Allah the Almighty. In short, a ‘Waqfe Zindagi’ becomes a manifestation of total obedience and submission. ‘Waqf’ also means to reserve one’s life for a special purpose or for the achievement of some special goal; and to work so hard and remain so busy to achieve that objective as to ignore everything else. In other words, a ‘Waqfe Zindagi’ remains ready, active and alert and never sits idle but remains vigilant. A ‘Waqfe Zindagi’ is never impetuous but tolerant and resolute. This results in goodness and piety spreading from a ‘Waqfe Zindagi’. This is a continuous beneficence that is shared by the whole nation, and young and old, scholar and illiterate, rich and poor, equally profit from him.